Electric coin-controlled device.



F. E. DODGE & N. M. LOOMIS. ELECTRIC COIN CONTROLLED DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 30, 1912.

1,074,496 Patented Sept. 30, 1913.

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APPLIOATIbN FILED AUG. 30, 1912.

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ELECTRIC 00m CONTROLLED DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 30, 1912.

1,074,496. Patented Sept. 30, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

[Mi /755555 In van/"0P5 To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that we, FRANK E. Dooon UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK E. DODGE AND NORMAN M. LOOMIS, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

' mmcrno COIN-CONTROLLED nsvrcn Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 30, 1913.

Application filed Au ust so, 1912. Serial No. 717,896.

and NORMAN M. LooMrs, citizens of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartfordaud State of Connecti out, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Coin-Controlled Devices, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in electric coin controlled devices, and the object of our improvements is simplicity and economy in construction and convenience and efiiciency in use.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a front elevation of our electric coincontrolled device. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same, the casing being in part broken away. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 4 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2 and on an enlarged scale of certain parts shown in the said figure. Fig; 5 is a sectional view on the line a: at of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a view corresponding to Fig. 3 of certain parts shown in'the said figure. Fig. 7 is a view corresponding to Fig. 6 and on a still further enlarged scale of the magnet and adjacent parts. Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 9 is a rear elevation of certain parts shown in Figs. 2- and 4 and on the same scale as Figs. 7 and 8. Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the goods wheel on the line 3 y of Fig. 1. Fig. 11 is a side elevation, on anenlarged scale, of a coin and part of the coin chute. Fig. 12 is a sectional view of the same on the line 2 2 of Fig. 11.

Our electric coin controlled device A comprises a casing B having a coin slot 15 for admitting a coin C, a delivery outlet 16 for the delivery of a goods unit D responsive to the insertionof a coin C in the said coin slot 15 and mechanism E released by the said coin C and operative to effect such dclivery of the said goods unit D.

The casing B comprises a base 17, a front wall 18, a rear wall 19, and lateral walls 20 extending upwardly therefrom and meeting at the top. The upper portions of the front and rear walls 18 and 19 are circular and concentric with the axis of the driving shaft F, and the said upper portion of the front wall 18 has a glass door' 21 and the lateralwalls 20 Which connect the said upper poitions combine to form a cylindrical chamber 28 for the upper portion of the casingB 23 for the main shaft I", the rear standard G and bearing 23 being adjacent the rear Wall 19 and the front standard G and hearing 23 being located approximately in the middle of the length of the casing B.

A goods delivery chute 24 is provided in the casing B connecting the goods delivery opening or math 16 with the delivery mechanism of the operatin mechanism E to be described and a coin c ute '25 delivers the coin C from the coin slot 15 to the said operating mechanism E.

The driving shaft F is suitably support ed in a horizontal position by the bearings 23 and comprises a portion 26 between the bearings 23 on which is mounted a driving gear 27 adjacent the front bearing 23 and a controlling wheel H intermediate the said portion 29 of the said driving shaft F overhangsthe front bearing 23 and supports a goods wheel I.

The goods wheel I comprises a central hub portion 30 suitable for being mounted on the shaft F and for supporting a spider 31, and which spider supports on the outer periphery an annular goods rim section 34 which is divided by radial partitions 32 into a plurality of goods receptacles 33. The bottom of the goods receptacles or pockets 33'is closed by a fixed closure inthe form of a shell mounted on the radial arms of the spider 31 and the rear end thereof is also closed bye. fixed closure by means of a back plate or disk 35. The front edges of the partition walls. 32 operate in close proximity to the glass door 21. of the front wall 1 8 so that the said glass plate serves as a closure for the front ends'of the goods reoe: tacles or pockets 33.

ithin the upper cylindrical inclosure '28 mentioned and concentric therewith is a cylindrical shell 80 that is positioned in proximity to the outer ends of the partition walls 32 and serves as a closure of the outer ends of the goods pockets 33, and serves particularly in the case of the pockets 33 in the lower positions as atrack to partially support the goods D and retain the same in the said pockets. At the extremelowermost position the said track 80 is interrupted to provide a delivery openin 41 which is of sufficient size to permit t e passage of a goods unit D from the lowermost pocket 33 when in registration therewith. The said delivery openin 41 constitutes the inlet for the goods units to the goods delivery chute 24 leading to the goods delivery outlet or mouth 16.

The chute is suitably curved to deliver the coin C from the coin slot 15 which is preferably at the front and upper part of the casing B to the coin operated or check mechanism J and as the said chute is preferably made of metal, the same is provided intermediate the length with an insulating section 42 whereby the lower portion 43 thereof which constitutes part of the check mechanism proper is insulated from the upper portion. A coin delivery chute 44 in continuation of the chute 25 and the said lower portion 43 thereof delivers the coin C when released by the check mechanism J in a manner to be described to a coin chamber K in the lower part of. the base 17 and which has a door 45 at the front controlled by a lock and key. The upper portion of the chute 25, particularly the winding por-- tion thereof, is formed by a pair of laterally disposed channeled members 51 having shallow channels to fit the edges of the coin C and having the opposed edges separated by an open space 52 through which a coin that is of smaller diameter than the coin for which the chute 25 is designed will pass and fall to the base 17 instead of following the route of the chute which the proper coin will follow.

The operating mechanism E comprises the check mechanism J and goods delivery mechanism L, the operation of which mechanisms is controlled by the controlling wheel H when released by the coin C. The said controlling wheel H is mounted on the shaft F and has an annular rim 46 which is pro- I vided on the rear face with a plurality of projections or pins 47 that are parallel with the axis and serve as stops and constitute the controlling means proper, and which stops correspond in number to the number of goods pockets 33.

The movement of the controlling wheel H as viewed in Figs. 4 and 9 is counterclockwise, and the same is operatively connected through gearing M comprising the gear wheel 27 on the shaft F with a spring motor N which tends to impart such movement thereto and the same is normally held against such movement by the engaging nose 48 of the armature 49 of a magnet engaged with one of the said sto s 47. A spring latch 50 engages with anot er of the stops 47 and prevents retrograde movement thereof, particularly any rebounding inci dental to the shock from sudden stopping of the movement of the mechanism by the action of the nose 48 engaged with a stop 47. The spring latch 50 is an elongated strip pivoted at about the middle by means of a pivot pin 52 secured to the rear ,standard G, has the upper end 53 suitably shaped to have one edge engage with one of the stops 47 to prevent clockwise movement and having the body portion angularly disposed relatively to the stops 47 so as to have sliding engagement with the free ends thereof and to be pushed to one side when the controlling wheel H is moved in the proper, counter-clockwise direction and to ermit such movement, the spring 54 engage with the lower end of theclatch 50 operating to hold the upper end 53 thereof in engaging position. The magnet 0 comprises the electromagnet 55, which is suitably supported from the frame G, the armature 49 that is pivotally supported by the lower end, the spring 56 that tends to hold the armature 49 away from the poles of the magnet proper55, and the adjustable armature stop 57 and is positioned so that the nose 48 of the armature 49 is in engagement with one of the stops 47, and serves to hold the controlling wheel H and the goods wheel I against movement by the motor N.

In order to relieve the pivotal bearings for the armature 49 from the duty of directly holding the stop or pin 47 as described we provide a back stop or backing 58 in the.

the same is engaged and when the magnet is deenergized the spring 56 moves the armature 49 and nose 48 back to position of engagement.

The coin tripping mechanism comprises a tripping arm 60 comprising an elongated and generally horizontal arm pivotally mounted by means of a pivot pin 61 at about the middle of its length having the inner end normally depressed by means of a spring 62 and provided at the outer end with a contact arm 63 that is normally adjacent the coin chute 43 and separated therefrom by a space so as to provide a gap 64. Thechute 43 and contact arm 63 are in the electric circuit with the coils of the magnet 55 and which may be supplied with current by means of batteries, transformer, or other convenient means, so that when the gap 64 is bridged by the coin C the electric circuit is closed and themagnet 55 is energized, resulting in releasing the controlling wheel H and goods wheel I and permitting a moveinent thereof responsive to the impulse of the motor N. The pivot pin 61 is mounted on the side of a bearing plate 66 having a bearing surface 67 opposed to the said arm 60 and the said arm 60'is held in bearing engagement withthe said surface 67 by the head of the said pivot pin 61 and is positively positioned thereby when at rest and suitably guided during its limited reciprocating movement. The said bearin plate 66 and chute 43 are supported by an insulating block 68 so that the same and the arm 60 are normally, electrically disconnected from the other parts of the frame and mechanism.

The inner end 65 of the arm 60 is normally positioned adjacent and separated from the rear face of the annular rim 46 of the controlling wheel H and overhangsone of the pins 47 and is provided on the under side with an inclined bearing edge 69 which is adjacent the said pin 47 and normally separated therefrom by a space and is suitable when the controlllng wheel H is moved in the manner described to ride on the said pin 47 and belifted thereby. I

' The upward movement of the inner end 65 described is accompanied by a dropping of the outer end of the arm 60 and of the contact arm 63, resultin in separating the same farther from the c ute 43 or opening of the gap 64 sufficiently to permit the coin C to drop by way of the coin delivery chute 44' to the coin chamber K. The dropping of the coin C from the gap 64 results in openingthe electric circuit and releasing the hold of the magnet 55 on the armature 49, whereupon the nose 48 will momentarily ride on the rear end of the pin 47 with which it was previously engaged until the said pin has been moved sufiiciently to clear the said nose 48 whereu on the said nose 48 will be moved forwar in position to en gage with the next pin 47. After the inner tripping end 65 of the tripping arm 60 has passed over the pin 47 with which it was engaged the same will be dropped to normal position by the spring 62. A stop '70 limits the downward movement of the inner end of the tripping arm 60. A wire 71 connects the bearing plate 66 with. the tripping arm 60, relieving the pivotal connection electrically.

The arms of the spider 31 and'the hub portion thereof are positioned at the rear tained in roper' and definite position regardless o the movements of the shaft F or 29 by means of a counter weight 72 fixed to the lower portion of the disk 81- or inany other suitable manner.

' ,As described, the insertion of the coin C of the goods pockets 33 are radial the saidwalls are divergent when in position for delivery of the goods unit D through the inlet 41 to the goods delivery chute 24 and permit the free exit of the said goods unit D.

The oods Wheel I is made of metal, being pre erably an aluminum casting, and is removably secured on the shaft F in an ordinary manner, as by a set screw 73, so that the same maybe readily removed from the shaft as a unit and cleaned and sterilized and maintained in a sanitary condition, which is desirable in case the goods units supplied are food products. The casing B is formed generally after the manner of a clock case, and the glass door 21 is mounted ina manner similar to the glass door of clocks, being hinged at one side and latched at the other side and the latched side is pro- .vided with a lock.

We claim as our invention:

1. A coin controlled device comprising a shaft, a motor tending to turn the said shaft, a controlling wheel mounted on the said shaft, and having a plurality of pins and means responsive to the insertion of a coin in the said device for engaging and disengaging the said pins and thereby controlling the movement of the said shaft, the said means comprising holding means engaged with one of the said pins and a tripping arm, pivotally supported, having the outer end suitably positioned to engage with a coin inserted in the said device and the inner end provided with a tripping nose and suitably positioned to be engaged with another of the said pins responsive to a turning movement of the said controlling wheel.

2. A coin controlled device comprising a shaft, a motor tending to turn the said shaft, a controlling wheel mounted on the said shaft, and having a plurality of pins, and means responsive to the insertion o'f-a coi in the said device for engaging and disen-' gaging the said pins and thereby controlling the movement of the said shaft, the said means comprising holding means engaged with one of the said pins and. a tripping arm, pivotally supported, having the outer end suitably ositioned to engage with a coin inserted in the said device and the inner and provided with a tripping nose and suitably positioned to be engagedwith an" other f he Said pins responsive to a turnmg movement of the said controlling wheel, the sad outer end being provided with contact fingers, and a coin chute having a closed inner wall and an outer wall 'provided with an opening, and the said con tact fingers. being positioned in the said opening.

' 3. In a coin controlled device comprising a shaft, a motor connected thereto, and a controlling wheel mounted on the said shaft, and having a plurality of pins on one face, a coin chute and a tripping arm, holding means operative normally to hold the said controlling wheel inopposition to the said motor, the said tripping arm being pivotally supported by the middle portion, the inner end of the said tripping arm having a tripping nose positioned normally adjacent one of the said pins suitably to be tripped thereby responsive toa movement of the said Wheel, contactfingers on the outer end of the said tripping arm, the said chute having one closed wall and a wall op-' posite the said closed wall provided with an opening, the said contact fingers being positioned in the said opening and normally separated from the said closed wall by a space suitable to be bridged by a coin, and the position of the pivotal support for the said tripping arm being such relatively to the said chute that upon the tripping of the said tripping arm the said contact fingers will be moved away from the said closed wall so as. to increase the extent of the said space suitably to permit the said coin to drop between the said contact fingers and closed wall.

I ma a y 4. In a coin controlled device, a controlling wheel, a plurality of pins thereon, a motor tending to move the said wheel, a magnet having an armature, the said armature being pivotally mounted by one end, the other end of the said armature being normally engaged with one of the said pins, and a backing engaged with the said other end and serving to positively position the same in the normal plane of movement, and meansfor energizing the said magnet responsive to a coin inserted in the said devlce.

5. In a. (20m controlled device, a controlling wheel, a plurality of pins thereon, a

motor, a magnet having an armature norengaged with one of the .said pins, a tripping arm ,pivotally mounted, having a contact finger at the outer end, the inner d of t e Said arm being positioned adjacent anothero-f' .the said pins and suitably shaped to engage therewith and to be FRANK E. DODGE. NORMAN M. LOOMIS.

itnesses:

FERDINAND DEsoro, GRACE G. KENNEDY. 

